poppenhusen



No. 753,109* PATENTBD PEB. 23,'-19o4- H. A. POPPBNHUSEN. ToY.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 1. 1903.

NO MODEL.

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Patented February 23, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HERMAN A. roPrENHsEN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TOYl

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,109, ,datedFebruary 23, 1904.

Application tiled May 1,1903. Serial Nc.`155,129. (No model.)

To all whom, t ina/y oon/cern: g

Be it known that I, HERMAN A. PorrnNHU- SEN, of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and- State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Toys; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part'of Athis specification.

lThis invention relates to a novelspring-actuated toy adapted' forforward movement by a series of impulses imparted to movable impellingmembers that operate against the Hoor or surface upon which the toyrests, the device being more particularly intended to simulate ananimal, such as a frog or rabbit, that moves forward by a series ofleaps or jumps.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointedout in the appended claims.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view ofa toy having the form of a frog embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a viewin side elevation of the impelling mechanism of the toy shown separatelyFig. 3 is a plan view of said impelling mechanism. Fig. 4 is anelevation thereof as seenin end view, and Fig. 5 is a modied form ofdevice for actuating the trigger of the device, and Fig. 6 illustrates afurther modification of the trigger-actuating device.

As shown-in said-drawings, A indicates the hollow body ,of thetoy, whichin the instance illustrated simulates a frog. B and C indicate frontand-'rear impelling members, shown in the drawings as having the form ofthe front and rear legs of the frog.l Said impelling members are rigidlyattached to the ends of horizontal rock shafts Bl and C, which aremounted in suitable bearings, shown in the drawings as formed by meansof apertures in the walls of thehollow'body A.

Within the hollow body A is located a springoperated-actuating mechanismthe frame'of which, as shown in theV drawings, consists of two parallelsupporting members D D, which are attached to a base-plate D', whichbaseplate is secured in any suitable manner to the top of the hollowbody A. In the said framearms .D D is mounted a horizontal rotativedriving-shaft E, arranged parallel wit-h the shafts B' C and whichprojects at its ends beyond the said members D. Rigidly attached to theopposite ends of said shaft are two crankdisks F F', provided withcrank-pins f f, which crank-pins project from the outer faces of thesaid disks. The crank-pin j' on the disk F engages a longitudinal slotg, formed in an actuating-arm Gr, which is rigidly attached to the shaftB of the forward impelling members B B. The crank-pin f of the disk F isengaged with a like slot'g in an actuatingarm G', which is rigidlyattached to the shaft C of therear impelling members C C. The free endsofthe said arms Gand Gr are adapted to swing or oscillate freely acrossthe outer faces of they disks F F', and when said shaft E is turned orrotated the disks F and F' are turned therewith, and at each completerotation of the disks the crank-pins f f through their engagement withthe arms G G', will give a single oscillatoryv movement thereto or, inother words, will carry said arms from their normal position to theopposite limit of their throw and back again to such normal position.The said arms Gr G are so arranged with respect to the impelling membersB and their normal positions the impelling members will be at theforward and upward limit of their stroke or movement, so that each timethe crank-pins ff make a complete rotation the impellingmembers B and Cwill be thrown downwardly and rearwardly and again restored to theirforward and elevated positions.

For giving rotative movement to the shaft E and the crank-pins f and f asuitably-applied spring is employed, the same, as shown, having the formof a coiled springH, which is wrappedaround and secured at its inner endto the said shaft E and is attached at its outer end to a normally xedstud e'. To provide for the winding of the spring, the stud is mountedon a wheel I,- which is adapted to turn on the shaft E and, is kadaptedto be rotated for the purpose of winding the spring H. Said wheel isprovided with a rigidlyattached ratchet-wheel I', engaged by a pawl 'IOOC that when the said actuating-arms are in 80 z", pivoted to the innerface of one of the frame members D. Said wheel I is, moreover, providedwith peripheral teeth and intermeshes with a gear-pinion j on awindingshaft J, which passes horizontally through. the hollow body A andis provided at one of its ends with a finger-piece or button A', bywhich said shaft J may be turned with the effect of rotating the wheelI, and thus winding the spring H.

For the purpose of holding the shaft E from rotation during the windingofthe spring and to release said shaft to permit the turning of thecrank-pin j' f', I employ a trigger K, which is adapted for contact withthe surface on which the toy rests and which projects below the level ofthe actuating members C and D when the same are in their normal p0-sitions and rest on said surface, so that the said trigger will beactuated or moved by contact with such supporting-surface when the toyis placed or dropped thereupon. Said trigger K is, moreover, arranged toengage a tooth or shoulder on a part which turns or rotates with theshaft E, so that the trigger will hold the shaft from turning under theaction of the spring except when said trigger is actuated by contactwith the surface on which the toy is placed.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the trigger K is pivoted by meansof a pivotpin 7c to the lower ends of the frame members D, and saidtrigger is provided at its inner end with a hooked arm K', adapted forengagement with a shoulder f 2, formed on one of the disks F', thehooked end of the arm K' being so arranged that when engaged with theshoulder f2 it will hold the disk from turning, and thus preventmovement of any of the parts under the action of the spring H.

The operation of the parts made as above described is as follows: At thetime of winding the spring H the trigger will be engaged with theshoulder f2 on the disk F', so as to hold said disk from turning, saidshoulder being arranged in such relation yto the crankpins ff' that whenthe disk is thus held from turning the actuating arms or members B and Cwill be held at the upper and forward limit of their oscillatorymovement or in what may be termed the normal position of these parts.When the trigger K is thus engaged with the disk F' and the impellingmembers are in the position described and shown in Fig. 2, the free endof the trigger K, which projects downwardly in an inclined directionfrom the pivot 1, extends below the level of the free ends of saidimpelling members, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. If when the parts areinthis position the toy be dropped or allowedv to rest upon aioor orhorizontal surface, such as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2, thefree end of the trigger K will be lifted when it strikes such surfaceandwill rise until the impellingv members B and C come to rest upon saidsurface f- As said free end of the trigger K is elevated, however, itshooked arm becomes disengaged from the shoulder jai-thereby releasingthe said disk and permitting rapid rotation of the crank-pins under theaction of the spring. Such turning of the crank-pins will have theeffect of throwing theforward ends of the oscillatory members B and Cdownwardly and rearwardly, and the downward and rearward pressure of theimpelling members on the supporting-surface will have the effect ofimpelling the-toy upwardly and forwardly, so as to simulate the leap orjump of a frog or other animal. As soon as the toy rises from thesupporting-surface the free or lower end of the trigger will descend bygravity, with the result of'throwingits hooked arm K' in position toagain engage the shoulder f2, so that at the completion of a singlerevolution of the crank-pins ff' the movement of said crankpins will bestopped or arrested, and the parts will resume their original positions,the impelling members lbeing rst thrown downwardly and backwardly andthen upwardly and forwardly in the turning ofthe crankpins, so that atthe end of the rotative movement of said crank-pins said impellingmembers will be again held at the upward and forward limits of theiroscillatory movement. The complete downward and upward oscillation ofthe impelling members, as well as the rengaging movement of the triggerdescribed, will take place very quickly and will be accomplished duringthe time that the toy is in the air or is making its flight through theimpulse given by the downward movement of the impelling members, so thatwhen the toy again alightsl orl strikes the supportingsurface the partswill have been restored to their original positions and will be again inposition for action in the same manner as before described. As aconsequence of the movements described when the spring of the drivingmechanism haspbeen wound up and the, toy is placed upon the floor orsupportingsurface the impelling movements or impulses of the impellingmembers will continue until the spring has exhausted its force,so thatthe toy will advance by-a series of leaps or jumps until the spring hasrun down, it being of course understood that at eachV contact of the toywith the supporting-surface the trigger K will be actuated to releasethe operating mechanism, and thus permit the action of the impellingmembers in a manner to give a new forward-andfupward impulse to the toy.

VWhile I have shown the toy ashaving the form ofa frog, yet the same maysimulatev a rabbit or other animal or it may have any other desiredexternal shape. While the impelling members B and C are shown as `havingVthe form of the legs of the animal, yet this is not necessary, as--thefigure ofthe animal may be complete in itself :separately from impellingmechanism, .and the latter.' vmay. be ad- IOO IIO

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animal-as, for instance, in the case of a toy.

resembling a frog the legs maybe made separate from the impellingmembers and of rubber or other iiexible material, permitting kfreeiiexure of the legs. Moreover, While I have shown the toy as having fourimpellingmembers, this being thought to be preferable, because With foursuch members the toy Will be likely to maintain its horizontal positionwhen Y through a slight movement of one of the impelling members, thelatter in such case being connected with the rotative partof the device,which operates it .by means aording a slight degree of lost motion. lSuch a construction is shown in Fig. 5in which the rear impellingmembers C are utilized to operate the trigger. As shown insaid figure,the arm G has a slot g', Wider at its outer end than the crank-pinf,which engages said slot. In this case also the trigger consists of arock-shaft L, having a hooked arm Z and a rigid arm L', attached to theshaft outside 'of the frame arm D and about in the plane of the arm G. Aconnecting-bar M is pivoted to the trigger-arm L and has slot m, engagedby a stud m on the actuating-arm G. A spring N is applied to hold thedetent in position to engage the shoulder f2, and a stop-pin n on thearm D limits the movement of Vthe trigger under the action of thespring. When the arm G is in its normal position, the stud m' is incontact with the outer end of the slot m, and the spring N holds thetrigger engaged with the disk and also holds the arm G', With the outeredge of the.

slot g,in contact with the crank-pinf. If now vthe toy is dropped uponthe floor, the conta/ct of the impelling members therewith ,throvvsAsaid impelling members upward and s'vvings the arm G as far as permittedby lthe Width of the outer part of the slot g. This slight movement ofthe arm Gr will operate through the connecting-bar M tomove the triggerfar enough to release it from the disk F. The disk will then turn andthe crank-pin actuates the impelling members C in the same manner asbefore described, the arm G being permitted to move freely andindependently of the trigger by the sliding of the Vstud m inwardly andoutwardly in the slot m of the bar M.

The release of the impelling members may be effected by the movement ofa Weight acting by gravity instead of by contact of a part of themechanism with the surface on which the toy rests. Such a constructionis shown in Fig. d, in Which the disk F' is provided With a shoulder f2,normally located at its upper part, and O indicates a trigger Which isspring.

pivoted at oto the frame-arm D above thesaid disk and is adapted toengage said shoulder. Said trigger in this instancehas the form of alever pivoted between its ends on a pivot o Uand having on its endremote from its holding-tooth a Weight O. A spring P acts upon the saidlever in a direction to lift the Weight, said spring being shown in thedrawings as consisting vof a coiled expansively acting In this devicethe gravity of the Weight has such relation to the strength of thespring that they spring vWill hold the Weight elevated under ordinarycircumstances, thereby maintaining -th'e trigger in engagement With thedisk; but when the toy is dropped or alights upon the iioor the impetusof the Weight overcomes the force of the spring andv releases thetrigger from the disk.

I desire to have it understood that the gen-Vv eral principles of my`invention may be embodied in mechanical forms differing from operatingthe said impelling members, a spring 9 5 applied to turn said shaft, arotative disk which turns With the shaft, provided with a shoulder and apivoted trigger engaging said shoulder to hold the disk and shaft fromrotation and adapted to be released from said disk by contact of the toywith a supporting-surface.

2. The combination with oscillatory impelling members, of a shaft towhich said members are attached, an arm rigid with said shaft, aspring-actuated disk provided with a crank-pin which engages a slot insaid arm, said disk being provided with a shoulder and apivoted triggeradapted to engage said shoulder.

3. The combination With front and rear oscillatory impelling members,tvvo shafts to which said impelling members are'attaohed,

' an arm attached to each of said shafts, a springactuated shaft, disksattached to the opposite .ends of said shaft, crank-pins Which projectVoutwardly from the disks and engage said arms, one of said disks havinga shoulder, and

a trigger adapted to engage said shoulder.

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4. A toy embracing a hollow body simulating an animal, front and rearshafts mounted in said body, impelling members attached -to the shafts,arms attached to the shafts, a

spring-actuated driving-shaft provided with crank-pins Which engage andgive oscillatoryA movement to said arms, a disk on said shaft -providedwith a shoulder, and a pivoted trigwhich said impelling members areattached, an arm attached rigidly to each shaft, a springactuated shaft,disks attached to the opposite ends of said spring-actuated shaft, saidarms being provided at their inner ends with slots, crank-pinsprojecting outwardly from said disks, and each engaging the slot of oneof said arms, one of said disks having a shoulder and a trigger adaptedto'engage said shoulder.

6. The combination with front and rear oscillatory impelling members,two shafts to which said impelling members are attached, an arm attachedrigidly to each shaft, a springactuated shaft, disks attached to theopposite ends of said spring-actuated shaft, said arms being provided attheir inner ends with slots,

.crank-pins projecting outwardly from said disks, and each engaging theslot of one of said arms, one of said disks having a shoulder and apivoted trigger adapted to engage said shoulder and to be releasedtherefrom by contact of the toy with a supporting-surface.

7 A jumping toy comprising a frame having downwardly-projecting sidemembers` attached to the body of the toy, a shaft extending between andhaving rotative bearing in said side members, a spring applied to saidshaft to rotate the same, means for winding said spring, two disks, oneon each end of said shaft, outside of said frame members, crankpins onsaid disks, front and rear oscillatory impelling members, two shafts towhich said impelling members are attached, arms rigid with said shaftsand adapted for engagement with the crank-pins of the disks, one of saiddisks being provided with a shoulder and a trigger pivoted to said frameand adapted for engagement with said shoulder of the disk.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afHX mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 2d day of April, A. D.

HERMAN A. POPPENHUSEN. Iitnesses:

WILLIAM L. HALL, GEORGE R. WmKINs.

